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(No model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. GOMBRFORD.

Device for Balancing Millstones on their Spindles.

Patented Oct. 12,1880.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheet 2. J. COMERFORD.

Device for Balancing Millstones on their Spindles.

No. 233,207. Patented Oct. 12,1880.

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS.

N, PETERS. PHOTOLITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON D c UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

JAMES GOMERFORD, OF RATHDRUM, IRELAND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 233,207, dated October12, 1880.

Application filed August 5, 1580. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES OOMLERFORD, of Rathdrum, in the county ofWicklow, Ireland, have invented a new and Improved Apparatus forBalancing. Millstones on their Spindles; and I do hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to an improved apparatus for balancing or adjustingthe running millstone upon its spindle.

This improved balance consists of a ring fixed in the eye of the stoneby three or more radial set-screws, and connected to the universal jointor other bearing on the cock'head of the spindle, the said ring beingsufficiently smaller than the eye to admit of the stone being shifted bymeans of the set-screws in any direction radial to the spindle, withwhich the ring remains concentric. The stone is supported on the ring byan in wardly-projecting flange or lugs on a lining or a set of legsfixed in the eye and rising through it (more or less) toward the back ofthe stone, it being generally preferred that the ring should be high upin the eye, so that the bearing on the spindle may be at or above thecenter of gravity of the stone, although it is not limited to thisposition. The ring is notched to receive the said lugs, or lugs on theflange, to relieve the set-screws of lateral strain in drivin g thestone.

By means of the radial set-screw the millstone can be moved or adjustedwith regard to the ring and spindle until the point of support on thecock-head of the spindle is brought to coincide with avertical linepassing through the center of gravity of the stone. The stone will thenstandin equilibrium. A perfect standing balance is thus obtained, and asno weights have been used a running balance will generally be found tofollow, provided the stone be evenly built; but if the stone runsunevenly weights must be used. They can be applied in many ways:

First, equal weights placed in each of the four quarters of the stone,high up at the back near the skirt, those weights being adjustable upand down by screws, as now used, until a perfect running balance isobtained.

Second, the stone havin g been adjusted on its spindle by means of theset-screws until a per- Patented in England January 6, 1880.

feet running balance is obtained, if there be not then a standingbalance, weight may be added to the light side of the stone until astanding balance is obtained. This weight should be placed in the samehorizontal plane with the point of support, so as not to affect therunning balance.

Third, ifone side of thestone be heavy standing and the opposite side beheavy running, Weight may be added to the heavy side standing, high upat the back of the stone near the skirt, which will make the same sideheavy running. By moving the stone on its spindle by means of theset-screws a point can now be found where the standing and runningbalances coincide, provided the weight be right.

When a perfect standing and running balance has been obtained, theset-screws having been screwed tightly home, the lugs should be keyed inthe notches to prevent the possibility of the ring turning in the eyewhen the stone is set to work; or, if desired, the ring may bepermanently fixed by means of cement or by wedge-shaped keys driventightly in round it. When cement is used the set-screws may be removedor allowed to remain.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a central vertical section ofa pair of millstones provided with the apparatus of my invention. Fig. 2is a plan of the runner lying face uppermost, the universal joint beingshown in its place in the ring. Figs. 3 and 4 are similar to Figs. 1 and2, except that the form of driver is difierent. Fig. 5 is a similarsection, the universal joint being high up in the eye above the centerof gravity of the stone. Figs. 6 and 7 are details of the radialset-screws.

A is the runner. B is the bed-stone, and O is the spindle on which therunner is poised. D E are the two parts of the universal joint, or thebeam and mace, as the case may be. ais a cast-iron lining cemented inthe eye of the runner, and fixed so as to be incapable of rising, orturning therein by two or more lugs, a, recessed and leaded in theburrs. In Figs. 1

and 3 this lining does not extend completely through the eye, which isenlarged at the lower part to receive it, and the lining is cast with aninwardly-projecting flange, b. In Fig. 5 the lining extends completelythrough to the back of the stone, and the eye is of the same diameterthroughout.

0 is one of two lugs cast on the under side of flange b at oppositepoints. (I is an adjustable ring received within the lining a, and uponwhich the flange b rests. This ring is east with bearings d, that reston the pivots or lugs 0 of the universal joint or other form of bearingused. The parts should fit together with suflicient accuracy to preventany lateral movement of the ring (I on the spindle. The ring d is alsoprovided with notchesfin its upper edge to receive the lugs c. The ring(I is rather smaller than the lining a, so as to leave a space betweenthe two of about a quarter of an inch, (more or less,) to permitot' thedesired adjustment, and the notchfis considerably wider than the lug e,for the same purpose.

g are screw-bolts, preferably four in number, screwing through tappedholes in the ring (1 against the lining a. ()ne of these bolts is shownon a larger scale in Fig. 6, which represents a cross-section of part ofthe ringand lining. ly loosening one or more of these set-screws andtightening up the opposite ones, the runner A may be adjusted more orless concentrically with the ring (I. When a perfect standing and rmmingbalanee have been obtained the notchesf are packed with keys, one ofiron in front of the lug and one of wood behind it, to lock the ringdinthe lining a and insure their turning together and relieve the setserewsof lateral strain in driving the stone. These keys can be easily removedshould any readjustment be necessary.

It will be obvious that a set of legs might be substituted for thelining a, and that in Figs. 1 and 3 the lining (I might even bedispensed with altogether.

In this case the set screws would bear against the stone itself, and theflange b would be held by lugs leaded or cemented in the burrs. Thereshould also be an external flange on the ring d at or near its loweredge, upon which the burrs or a flange fixed in the burrs would rest.

In Fig. 5 the flange b, instead of being cast on the lining a, as shown,may be screwed to the ring (I, so as to be concentric with the spindle(J, in which case there should be three or more inwardly-projecting lugscast on the lining a, which would fit into notches in the ring (1.

it is preferred that the set-screws 9 should screw through the ring 01,as above described; but they might be fixed in the lining a with theirheads countersunk in the back thereof, as shown in Fig. 7, or embeddedin the cement and pass freely through holes d in the ring d, and beprovided with nuts g, bearing against the inside of the ring. Thebolt-holes d should be elongated horizontally, as shown in Fig. 7, topermit of the desired adjustment.

Having thus described my invention, what [claim as new is Thecombination, with runnerA, ofthe lining a, fixed in the eye thereof, andhaving flange I), with lugs c, the ring d, provided with bearings d, andthe universal joint 1) E, having lugs 0, whereby the runner may beadjusted by screws 9 with respect to the ring and spindle to obtain astanding balance, and maybe maintained in position by keying the lugs inthe notches, as described.

The above specification of my invention signed by me this 10th day ofJuly, 1880.

JAMES COMERFORD.

Witnesses:

ROGER HILL, Rathdrum. J. RUTH, Itathdrum.

